New report sets out steps for a stronger post-16 education system

A new report has set out how the Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) system in Wales can be strengthened so that it can be at the forefront of international innovation and best practice.

Wednesday 13 June 2018

Last year, Education Secretary Kirsty Williams announced the appointment of Professor Harvey Weingarten, President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO), to undertake a Review of Systems for Monitoring and Improving the Effectiveness of Post-compulsory Education in Wales.

The Review, which has been published today, recognises the fragmentation of the current system for performance monitoring and provides 10 recommendations for how this system could be improved.

The recommendations are based on a more comprehensive and holistic assessment of the contribution of Wales’ individual institutions and its PCET system as a whole.

Professor Weingarten said:

“In conducting my review, it was clear that there is a high quality of people in the Welsh PCET system. This is true in the institutions, government and agencies, each with a passion and commitment to Welsh education and students. There was a willingness to consider how the Welsh PCET system could be improved and do an even better job of helping students and Wales achieve their goals.

“My recommendations would provide government and institutions with the evidence base to determine the effectiveness of the PCET system, inform decisions necessary to improve the effectiveness of the system and maximise the contribution of each institution and the system as a whole to the most important Welsh objectives.

“I provide this final report in that spirit – as an analysis and set of recommendations offered to best monitor, and improve the effectiveness of the PCET system in Wales.”

Welcoming the report, Kirsty Williams said:

“Professor Weingarten’s review has given us some really valuable input to help support the longer term reform of post-compulsory education and training in Wales, which includes the current technical consultation on the creation of a new Tertiary and Education and Research Commission for Wales.

“It is an excellent piece of work, which I know has benefited hugely from Professor Weingarten’s engagement right across the sector in Wales.

“We will now take the time to give careful consideration to the 10 recommendations in the report, which must be seen in the context of our ongoing development of systems for monitoring and supporting the post-compulsory education system in Wales.”